Aviation

‘Air Nigeria Resumes Long Hub Operations, Soon’

Published

14 years ago

January 13, 2012

The board of directors

and the management of the Nigeria’s flag carrier, Air Nigeria, says the airline would return to its long hub operations to resume flights to Johannesburg in South Africa and London in United Kingdom very soon.

Managing Director of the airline, Mr Kinfe Kahssaye said the decision had been reached for the airline to return to the long hub it hitherto dominated before the turnaround embarked upon by the current management.

Mr Kahssaye noted that the decision would be implemented in such a way that they would be profitable to the airline and comfortable to the passengers, pointing out that the airline lost a lot of money because of its long hub operations in the past.

“We have tried to identify why we lost so massively at the time we were flying there and we are addressing that. Already, we are making decisions to return there and we hope to do it right this time and that will be done very soon. When we return, we shall go to the United States of America and South Africa”, he stressed.

The airline boss stated that the country had the operating environment and the market for the airline to operate profitably, adding that so far, about four per cent of the total population of Nigeria still embrace flying.

Dismissing the notion in some quarters that the current indigenous airlines could not make turnover in their operations due to their high numbers, Kahssaye emphasised that the aviation industry was still growing and that the airlines would soon break-even in their operations.

He insisted that the problem facing the Nigerian aviation industry was not the market size but the development of the capacity for the airlines to build a competitive market and profitable one, predicting that aviation operations in Africa would improve and mature in the 21st century while many private business operators would invest in the sub-sector.

Kahssaye said: “Africa as a growing economy with over a billion population and with the resources that we have in both human and natural, Africa will be transformed and modernised in this 21st century and so, many people will explore it”, pointing out that in Africa, aviation is still not mature unlike in America and Europe that is fully mature as well as Asia.

According to him, there is domestic market in Nigeria that is one of the biggest in Africa as the country has about 150 million people as at now, out of which 5 million people are travelling by air, which indicates that there is a very big room for growth.

Meanwhile, two former executives of Air France have been accused of fixing the prices of air cargo in Chicago, said the US Justice Department.

The incidents were the latest in a long running price-fixing probe that has censored twenty-one airlines and 21 executives. The former Executive Vice President of the cargo division of Air France, Mr. Mac Boudier and the former Vice President of the cargo division of sales and marketing of the airline, Mr. Jean Charles Foucault are facing charges of conspiring with other air cargo carriers and their executives to push up prices.

Aviation

Togo Govt Scraps It’s Visa Requirements For All African Countries

Published

2 weeks ago

May 27, 2026

The Tide

The Togolese government has scrapped visa requirements for nationals of all African countries, effective May 18, 2026, meaning Nigerians with valid passports can now enter the country without applying for visa in advance.

African travellers can now stay in Togo visa-free for up to 30 days counting from May 18, 2026.

Visitors must still complete an online pre-arrival registration before entering the country.

The announcement came via the official X handle of Togo’s Ministry of Security, signed by the ministry’s head, Colonel Calixte Batossie Madjoulba.

Under the new policy, eligible African travellers can stay in Togo for up to 30 days without a visa, with the government describing the move as a commitment to Pan-African ideals and regional integration.

Government based the decision within a wider Pan-African agenda, stating that it reaffirms Togo’s attachment to “Pan-African ideals, continental solidarity, and community and African commitments, relating to mobility and regional integration.”

Togo also positioned the move as part of an agenda of “openness, modernisation, and attractiveness” aimed at making the country “a regional hub for services, business, culture, and human exchanges at the heart of Africa.”

There is, however, one step travellers cannot skip. Before arrival, visitors must register on the Togolese government’s official travel portal at voyage.gouv.tg at least 24 hours before reaching the border.

Nigerians can now travel to Togo without applying for a visa in advance.

The registration generates a travel slip that must be presented at entry points across land, air, and sea. The government has been clear that this pre-arrival formality remains mandatory regardless of the visa exemption.

Beyond the registration requirement, standard entry conditions still apply. Security checks, immigration screening, and public health requirements remain in place, and the waiver does not protect travellers who overstay or enter irregularly.

All border agencies have been directed to implement the new policy immediately.

Togo’s decision is part of a broader continental shift. Across Africa, more governments are moving to ease intra-African travel in alignment with the African Continental Free Trade Area’s vision of freer movement of people and goods.

Togo is now among the more accessible West African destinations for Nigerian travellers, a short trip that previously required advance visa processing and now requires nothing more than a passport and a quick online registration the day before you fly.

Aviation

Egypt Flight Moves To Prevent Explosion —- Diverts London Flight To Rome

Published

2 weeks ago

May 27, 2026

The Tide

An EasyJet flight from Egypt to London was diverted to Rome after a passenger was found with a power bank in checked luggage.

The airline said the diversion was made as a safety precaution due to regulations surrounding lithium-ion batteries.

Passengers landed safely in Rome and were provided accommodation and refreshments after the delay.

The aircraft, operating flight EZY2618 from Hurghada to London Luton, made an unscheduled landing at Rome Fiumicino Airport last Tuesday evening as a precautionary safety measure.

According to the airline, the decision to divert was taken after a passenger informed cabin crew that the portable charger was inside luggage stored in the aircraft’s hold.

Although no fire or malfunction was reported, lithium-ion batteries found in power banks are considered a significant safety risk on aircraft due to the possibility of overheating or catching fire.

Flight tracking data showed the plane cruising at approximately 36,000 feet over the Adriatic Sea before suddenly changing course and heading towards Rome, where it landed safely about 20 minutes later.

Passengers reportedly disembarked without incident, while the flight was rescheduled for the following day.

In a statement, EasyJet apologised for the disruption and said the diversion was carried out in accordance with aviation safety regulations.

“The safety of passengers and crew is our highest priority,” the airline said, adding that hotel accommodation, meals, and refreshments were provided for affected travellers.

“EasyJet’s policies state that power banks are only permitted in cabin baggage and must not be stored in checked luggage.

The airline also prohibits passengers from using power banks to charge devices during flights.

The incident comes as airlines around the world continue tightening restrictions on portable chargers and lithium battery devices amid growing concerns over onboard fire hazards linked to overheating batteries.

Aviation

Delta At 20: Delta Airline Expands Travel Access Ahead 2026 World Cup

Published

2 weeks ago

May 27, 2026

The Tide

Delta Air Lines has announced a range of travel solutions aimed at easing the journey for Ghanaian football fans planning to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup across the United States and North America.

The announcement was made during an event in Accra marking the airline’s 20th anniversary in Ghana, as company officials highlighted plans to work closely with local travel agencies to ensure that fans can access tickets and travel packages well in advance for the global tournament.

According to Delta’s Managing Director for International and Specialty Sales, Rob LeBel, the airline is introducing flexible options tailored to different travel needs.

These include individual ticket purchases, discounted group packages for parties of ten or more, and charter services for larger groups.

He explained that the collaboration with travel agencies would also focus on educating customers about the best ways to secure flights during the expected surge in demand.

To expand travel routes, Delta is leveraging its partnership with European carrier KLM, offering passengers alternative connections through Europe when direct routes are fully booked.

The airline believes the upcoming tournament presents a major opportunity to strengthen travel ties between Ghana and North America, particularly as interest among football fans continues to grow.